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Hey Reading Community,
By now, you have probably started to see connections between Hannah’s prayer (ch. 2) and the character traits embodied in Saul and David. Saul is dishonest; lacks integrity; and, above all, is prideful and incapable of escaping his own self-deception. As promised in her prayer, the prideful are brought low (Saul’s progressive downfall) and the lowly yet faithful are exalted (David’s rise to king).
David is small in stature and status, a shepherd, of all people, but righteous through radical trust in Yahweh. David becomes the anointed king of Israel (ch. 16), but suffers and is persecuted by Saul. During this same time, Saul’s jealousy and madness grows darker and darker, and in the first few days of this week's reading, you’ll see it culminate in Saul's grisly demise. This is again contrasted with David’s final enthronement and major moral and social progress in the kingdom of Israel.
Onwards!
Jon, Tim, & The Bible Project Crew
P.S. Want to dive deeper? Start with our blog on Biblical Theology. This week, we take a look at David: What's the big deal? |
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Chapter 7
Rise & Fall of Israel's Kingdom |
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Week 13
Summary |
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This week, after witnessing the end of Saul’s reign, you will see King David finally enthroned as the first king of a truly unified Israel (albeit he has been the rightful king under persecution since Samuel anointed him in ch. 16). You will see King David coalesce the kingdom of Israel around their new political and spiritual center of the country, Jerusalem (which he calls Zion).
You’ll also bear witness to one of the most important stories in the entire Bible, the establishment of the Davidic Covenant between God and King David (ch. 7). However, as you are riding the highs from the first half of this book, you’ll see a turn in King David, as well as in the book of 2 Samuel. King David gives into temptation and sleeps with Bathsheba (ch. 11), which sets into motion a series of events that bring his kingdom to a grinding halt and destroys his family.
Next week, we will end with a series of poetic reflections by David on the whole storyline of Samuel, and begin with his son, Solomon, the new King of Israel. |
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